Amp Building

[cbass]

Can I drink beer at the class? They always frowned on it in school.
Just kiddin looks like fun.

[bruce egnater]

We "prebuild" much of the kit so it can be done in one day. Classroom is day 2 where they really learn stuff. You still get enough intense building experience in about 10 hours without caving under the pressure. We build the board, which would take a day or two itself and prewire some of the utility chassis stuff to make it doable. Beer in class? If you must.... As long as it is in a brown paper bag..........??

[Phil_S]

This is an interesting approach. If I understand it, the student is actually completing a partially assembled amp. It seems like just enough to get them to see and handle all the parts without getting bogged down in some of the more tedious assembly work.

What may be lost in this approach is what's gained in reading layout and schematic drawings, but I know that extends the time and time is certainly money. By placing each component on the board, and checking to a schematic and layout, the student develops a good sense of how important these drawings are and how to understand/use them effectively. I don't see the exercise as paint by numbers, though I imagine some do.

If I remember my college psyc well enough, this is a technique known as successive approximation. There are piles of scholarly papers on this. Basically, it involves giving positive reinforcement when the subject exhibits behavior that is close to what is desired. In this case, the student gets "experience lite" and a great amp to take home. That should provide a feeling of great success (positive reinforcement) and is probably more than enough to get the student to teach himself the rest.

FWIW, I think I like it!

[bruce egnater]

I view this as similar to learning to drive. You can take all the classes you want but until you drive a car, you really don't know what it's like. That is why we build on the first day with ongoing explanations working from drawings, schematics etc. The second day is sort of the classroom setup where you have all the papers with your amp in front of you. I blow up the schematics and tape them to the wall. Very old school.. and attempt to teach everything I know in about 6 hours. Even seasoned amp guys (girls) have benefited from the experience. Nothing is held back. I try to teach every trick I know, modifications, reading schematics etc. We usually limit the class to 6 or 7 people so everyone gets the individual attention needed. I just really love doing this and teaching people. I really like when we have "younger" students/teens who want to learn this craft and know who Jimi Hendrix and Yngwee Malsteem are.

[tsutt]

Think of it like a four volume pots. They're arranged as two pairs (pair A vs pair B). But each pair is wired "backwards". So as pair A gets "louder", pair B gets "quieter".

I can understand that but being a complete green horn i would have to see a schematic comprehend as i dont know how to apply it.
Thanks
Todd

[Phil_S]

...we build on the first day with ongoing explanations working from drawings, schematics etc...

Well, one should not assume! Sounds like an awesome experience.

[matt h]

(deleted)

[cbass]

I'd do it if I could afford sounds like a blast .hell the amp alone makes it a good deal. It'd be rude if I didn't bring enough beer for everyone.

[tsutt]

I can understand that but being a complete green horn i would have to see a schematic comprehend as i dont know how to apply it.
Thanks
Todd

the schematic is out there, floating in the abyss. a search will pull it up. But I guarantee you that it looks more confusing in schematic form than it does in written. best of luck to you

I have looked a little but havent found it. Me and books are like oil and water we dont mix well. im a visual learne and can only use books for reference.

Thanks
Todd

[martin manning]

It took one "Google" to find this: http://www.amparchives.com/album/Marsha ... index.html

[tsutt]

Thanks Martin but i was looking for an egnater rebel 30. i just found one but i cant read it.

Todd

[martin manning]

Ah I see, my mistake. It took one Google to find that one too. Even in the low-res image you can see how the blend control works.

[tsutt]

That may work for you you understand these things i dont. I need a clear picture of whats going on. Thats ok Im in no hurry just thinking. Actually was hoping Bruce might pipe in but since its a current model probably not.

[WRC34]

I too would have attended this a couple of years ago. Always interested in how amps work then finally deciding I wanted to build, I spent ages talking to amp repair guys, people at gigs, etc looking for some old sage who would take me under his wing and show me the ropes.

I finally found an amp tech who, while not willing to take me on working with him as an apprentice (which I offered to do unpaid), agreed to meet and talk with me over coffee. He was a fun guy to talk to and it was very kind of him to meet & chat with me. Yet I walked away from the experience realizing the truth was I would have to teach myself.

So, I spent every spare moment I had reading anything and everything I could find online - a lot of it on this forum - looking every up every question I had. It was like reading a foreign language, it made no sense. I forced myself to understand things through sheer repetition. With each concept my mind grasped, a new question would emerge. This process is still ongoing and my knowledge is at an elementary level, but I now know enough to actually build amps myself (and make tons of mistakes).

However, considering the insane amount of personal time I've spent this class would've been like paying nickels on the dollar. I would encourage anyone who was where I was when I walked away from having coffee with that amp tech to take it.

Good luck Bruce, keep spreading the knowledge!

[bruce egnater]

Email me for the Egnater amp schematics.